HP Trophy at Emsworth Radio Sailing Wednesday 28 September
Published 01:00 on 20 Sep 2022
20 competitors were welcomed at the Emsworth Mill Pond for the first running by Emsworth Radio Sailing of the HP trophy sponsored by Rooster Sailing. Amongst the visitors the home team welcomed Derek Priestley, the MYA President, who had travelled from Fleetwood for the day. In total 9 visitors joined 11 from the home club to make up a capacity fleet for the day. For ease of race management the fleet was spilt into a B and A fleet with 12 boats on the water at any one time. A 4 up 4 down heat management system was deployed and in expert hands of Rob Tarboton and Tom Lance the fleet was able to move quickly from one race to another.
The fleet was made up of a variety of the currently favoured fast designs Britpops forming the majority but Vickers, Cheinz, Kantun and Dead Reckoning were were amongst the fleet on the water. John Taylor brought his latest design the Sushi and this beautiful wooden boat attracted much interest on the boat's first appearance on the water.
The day was one of sun but shifty winds from a tricky direction on this venue and this tested the competitors as much as PRO, Jonathan Clark and the race team. Whilst there was a brief appearance of a sea breeze the wind was in the main from the North West moving West and North in seemingly random order.
In all 16 races being 8 series were run with no one competitor dominating the racing, indeed event the regatta winner spent some time in the B fleet. As the last race drew to a close and the second discard was applied it was Nigel Barrow from Frensham Pond sailing his Britpop who came home first. In second place was another Britpop sailed by Dave Green from Huntingdon RYC and third went to Dorian Crease from Two Islands RYC sailing a Cheinz. Leading Emsworth sailor was Theo Galyer in sixth sailing a Vickers V9 with team Priestley sharing identical points ahead of him in the final rankings.
The new trophy was duly presented to Nigel Barrow at Emsworth Sailing Club and ERS thank them for hosting this event and providing excellent refreshments during the day.
Jonathan Clark